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Comment by Tripatini on June 29, 2010 at 9:19am

Free concert on Pensacola Beach's Gulfside Pavilion tonight (Tues. 6/29) 7-9pm by Beatles cover band Not Quite Fab. More info: 850-932-2257.

Comment by Tripatini on June 29, 2010 at 8:58am

ConcertsForTheCoast.com reports that the "Jimmy Buffett & Friends" concert originally scheduled for July 1 in Gulf Shores, Alabama has been postponed till Sunday July 11, "due to safety concerns related to possible storm surge caused by Tropical Storm Alex. While the storm is not a threat to the area, increased water inundation at the beach may be dangerous for audience safety and will undermine the stability of the staging."

The free tickets were snapped up the day they went on sale, but some are available from scalpers online (currently, for example, on eBay four are being offered for $127.50).

Comment by Tripatini on June 28, 2010 at 10:30am

6/27 from Sun Herald in Biloxi/Gulfport, Mississippi:

"EMA Director: Oil May Have Washed Up on Biloxi Beach
By Anita Lee

What looks to be oil in the form of loose mousse has washed up at U.S. 90 and Rodenburg Avenue in Biloxi, according to Harrison County Emergency Management Director Rupert Lacy.

Lacy and Bobby Weaver with the local Unified Command were on the beach Sunday evening to examine the substance and collect some for testing.

Also late Sunday evening, the state Department of Marine Resources closed additional waters to fishing, covering an area from Gulfport harbor east to the state line, save for a small portion of the Sound off the coast of Gautier."

Comment by Vincent Russo on June 28, 2010 at 10:00am

Just read a headline says Florida Panhandle Tourism Tanks. Story says parking lots were empty Saturday like it was off season, except its supposed to be high season in Panhandle. This is my state, tourism is our economy. What are we supposed to do?

Comment by Tripatini on June 28, 2010 at 9:27am

Today 6/28 from Pensacola News Journal:

"Tropical Storm Alex May Send More Oil Our Way
Thyrie Bland

Tropical Storm Alex is not expected to make landfall here, but waves from the storm could push more oil and tar from the BP spill onto Florida Panhandle beaches.

...Florida Department of Emergency Management meteorologist Amy Godsey said rough waves churned by the storm will disrupt efforts to corral and burn surface oil and will likely push more oil and tar onto Panhandle beaches throughout the week."

Comment by Tripatini on June 28, 2010 at 9:18am

Video with beach update in Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, Alabama, as of yesterday:

Comment by Northeast News on June 27, 2010 at 3:59pm

Looks to me like they've got BP by the short horns"

"Tourism Group Calls for More Advertising Money from BP" -gulflive.com

"SouthCoast USA, a tourism consortium that promotes destinations along the Gulf Coast from Pensacola to Lake Charles, La., asked Friday for BP PLC to grant $10 million for marketing and advertising the region.

"Travel is dependent on perceptions," said U.S. Travel Association President Roger Dow. "And the greatest threat to the travel community here is the lost opportunity if travelers don't fully understand the reality that destinations along thousands of miles of the coast are ready to welcome visitors."

In May, BP gave $15 million apiece to promote tourism to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, as well as $25 million to Florida. Some other money that BP has given states has gone to tourism promotion....

The call echoes one made Thursday by a group of southeast Louisiana business leaders for a "far-reaching and sustained marketing campaign" to promote tourism to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast."

Comment by Tripatini on June 27, 2010 at 10:57am

Associated Press 6/27 re Tropical Storm Alex:

"Forecasters say Alex will cross over the Yucatan Peninsula back into the Gulf, where the warm waters could fuel it up to hurricane strength. It's projected to hit Mexico again south of Texas and miss the spill, but officials are watching closely."

Comment by Tripatini on June 27, 2010 at 10:44am

6/26 update from GulfCoast.org (Mississippi):

"Emulsified oil has entered the Mississippi Sound and additional boom is being placed around sensitive areas and more is being ordered... As a result of the oil in the Mississippi Sound, the fishing and shrimping closures below have been issued. Mississippi coatline beaches and barrier islands remain open at this time."

Following areas closed to recreational as well as commercial fishing: "starting at the northernmost point of the Gulfport Ship Channel; eastward following the meanderings of the shoreline to a point on the shore due north of the western tip of Deer Island; then due south to the westernmost tip of Deer Island; then southeasterly following the southern shore of Deer Island to 88 degrees 51 minutes west longitude; due south to 30 degrees 20 minutes north latitude; due east along the 30 degree 20 minute north latitude line to Bayou Casotte Ship Channel; due north to the CSX railroad; northeast along the CSX railroad to a point on the Mississippi/Alabama state boundary; due south following the Mississippi/Alabama state boundary to the Mississippi/Federal waters boundary; westerly following the Mississippi/Federal waters boundary to the Ship Island Bar Channel; northwest following the Ship Island Bar Channel; northwesterly following the channel until it becomes the Gulfport Ship Channel; back to the point of origin at the northernmost point of the Gulfport Ship Channel."

all barrier islands in the Mississippi district are open. Petit Bois Island is located approximately 14 miles south of Pascagoula and is a designated wildlife area and one of the least visited of our barrier islands. It is about 6 miles long. Horn and Ship Islands are approximately 12 miles south of Biloxi and Gulfport respectively. Ship Island is the only barrier island with passenger service available. Ship Island Excursions take passengers from the Gulfport Small Craft Harbor to West Ship Island."

"There are reports of tar balls on Mississippi's barrier islands and shorelines. Tests must be run to determine if indeed these are tar balls from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Regular, scheduled searches are being made each day to monitor and clean our beaches. As additional reports to the proper authorities are made, cleanup crews are dispersed and a complete search of each area is made to make sure all suspicious items have been removed. Mississippi's barrier islands, the Mississippi Sound, and shoreline remain open."

Hancock County: all beaches open.
Jackson County: all open.
Harrison County: beach ADVISORY as a result of high bacteria levels at the following location: the beach area including Harrison County station 09 (near Pratt Avenue, Gulfport), extent is from 20th Avenue eastward to Thornton Avenue.

Comment by Tripatini on June 26, 2010 at 9:49am

As of yesterday 6/25, Louisiana's Jefferson Parish CVB reported the status of two major local destinations as follows:

Lafitte
Fishing in inland marshes closed, but charter fishing open. All listed as open: the local seafood docks, visitors center, state fisheries museum, Jean Lafitte Nature Study Park, Louisiana Tour Company Swamp Tour, and motels/restaurants/vacation rentals generally.

Grand Isle
The Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo to have been held in July will be replaced by an Island Aid Concert (July 22-24). Local camping, observation tower, and birding/nature trails are open, and beaches partially open with restrictions (the beach within the state park, however, is closed). The Butterfyl Dome as well as local lodgings and restaurants are open. Many of the local fishing tournaments/events have been cancelled, but the Blessing of the Fleet and accompanying fair are still scheduled for July 30-August 1. The Kajun Sportsmans King Classic Rodeo has been rescheduled for Sept. 9-11.

Listed as closed/cancelled: fishing in marshes, Gulf, lagoon, and off pier.

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